The great Sicilian parks Regional parks are now an efficient reality both for the protection of delicate ecosystems and for the tourist, sports and educational enhancement of mountain areas. The Sicilians parks are four in order of establishment: the Park of Etna (Catania), the Madonie (Palermo), the Nebrodi (Catania, Enna and Messina) and, last born, the Fluvial Park of Alcantara (Messina and Catania). The latter is certainly a natural system of almost primitive beauty, where the landscape is shaped by the encounter between water and fire, with the river that digs and meets the hot lava, creating great stone architectures: gorges, polished walls, water jumps, smooth and square stone blocks. If Alcantara is characterized by river vegetation (with the eastern platano and the white willow, endemic species along the shores, a few meters from the water, mix with citrus and fichidindia), the Etna Park, with its orography marked by lava eruptions, is a true botanical garden. The large active volcano – with its 3,300 meters is the highest in Europe – features the northern slope covered by a thick snow cover for most of winter, and large birch or beech forests paint an unusual northern landscape not far from the […]

Catania: save the date for the new exhibition “From Giotto to De Chirico”. The Hidden Treasures, curated by Vittorio Sgarbi. The Ursino Castle in Catania, from October 26, 2017 until May 20, 2018, will host the exhibition “From Giotto to De Chirico. The Hidden Treasures “. The exhibition is curated by Vittorio Sgarbi and is born of the desire to illustrate the “hidden and protected” Treasury of Italy in the most important Italian private collections. Over 150 masterpieces of Italian art including works by Giotto, Caravaggio, Guttuso and De Chirico will be shown in the city at the foot of Mount Etna. dmc sizilien – sicily dmc- sicily incentive

Subject: visit the Van Gogh Multimedia Show Experience “Monreale – Monumental Complex Guglielmo II from 25 th November 2017 through 29th April 2018 in collaboration with the Municipality of Monreale, the Sicilian Region Assessorato ai Beni culturali It is a multimedia exhibition that examines, through projections on many large monitors, the life and works of the famous artist, with video-viewing of many paintings and drawings made during his life. The visit emphasizes the various artistic periods experienced by Van Gogh in the the last 10 years of his life. The exhibition will offer all visitors the opportunity to make an extraordinary journey to the discovery of the history and works of the Dutch painter through images and sounds, a stunning adventure through time and space. The visitors will also be able to immerse themselves in the 3D vision of the artist’s most important works through the use of virtual reality. A full immersion between screens and totems to get to know the extraordinary activity of the Van Gogh, universally recognized as the greatest artist of all times. Grouped by themes: from landscapes to flowers, passing to portraits and celebrity self-portraits, images slide on the screens in the twilight in order to fully appreciate the […]

Aeolian Islands, Sicily Off the coast of Sicily, the Aeolian islands offer seas as clear as the Bahamas, landscapes worthy enough to be film sets and exceptional restaurants. Smouldering volcanoes, bubbling mud baths and steaming fumaroles make these tiny islands north of Sicily a truly hot destination. Astonishingly beautiful and extremely varied, the seven islands and various uninhabited islets of the Aeolian archipelago were designated a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2000. Their volcanic origins left a dramatic legacy of black-sand beaches, smouldering craters and splintered, rocky coastlines. Island-hoppers can discover their individual charms: from the spartan conical Alicudi, where donkeys are the only form of land transport, to the international jet-set playground of Panarea. North of Sicily in the Tyrrhenian Sea, the archipelago was named after Aeolus, god of the winds, by Greek settlers. This has been a volatile part of the world ever since Filicudi, the first land mass, emerged from the sea 600,000 years ago. There are two active volcanoes, Stromboli and Vulcano, and volcanic activity of some kind, whether steaming fumaroles or thermal waters waiting to be tapped, on most of the other islands. Winter storms see the islands cut off for days. Like many coastal […]

PANTELLERIA: a holiday far from the madding crowd on one of Sicily’s minor islands A wild and peaceful land at the heart of the Mediterranean, offering African-hued sunsets and unforgettable starlit nights: welcome to Pantelleria, a beautiful and intriguing place, born around 300,000 years ago, whose volcanic origins are reflected still today in its colours and its secrets. Pantelleria is part of Sicily, but the island actually lies much closer to Africa than Italy. It is precisely this privileged position (Homer called it “the navel of the Mediterranean”) which gives the island its look and its culture rich in contrasts, a place of Arabic forms and typical scents of Southern Italy. The island stands out, amongst other things, for its rugged coastline and the green countryside overhanging the sea. This isn’t a place of sandy beaches, but rather one of small coves with crystal clear waters, spectacular and mysterious caves and a descent to the sea over smooth rocks. Pantelleria’s volcanic origins are also to thank for its authentic open air spa facilities: from the hot springs of Gadir and the Benikulà Cave natural sauna to the mud of the Lago di Venere, every corner of Pantelleria offers regeneration for the senses and […]

PALERMO AND MONREALE Palermo, founded by the Phoenicians with the name Ziz ‘flower’ – developed enormously under the Arabs and then under the Normans and Hohenstaufens, so much so that most of its most prestigious monuments were built in those periods. The city formed along the main street, the “Cassaro” (now Corso Vittorio Emanuele), intersected from the sixteenth century on by via Maqueda. Along these streets and the side streets there are splendid patrician mansions and many of the main monuments: the Royal Palace with the Palace Chapel, the Cathedral, the “Martorana” church, Piazza Pretoria, Palazzo Steri to mention just a few. Monreale City of Kings, Bishops, Artists and Poets, Even though its territory is not as wide and varied as the history through which it has passed, it is among the most precious of the jewels making up the immense cultural heritage of Sicily. No matter how long it takes for chronicles to becomes history, in Monreale time has continously accumulated every day fragments which have also become history. THE ORIGINS OF MONREALE Monreale has a historical peculiarity of great importance: that of being a city, now with 25.000 inhabitants, which grew up around an immense and wonderful cathedral. […]

Catania lies cradled amidst the splendid greenery of its surroundings, yet at the same time opens out to the sea, welcoming us with its grand piazzas, wide roads, and architecture in lavic rock. The city is full of attractions, offering historic and artistic wonders for everyone. Remnants of history prove that the various cultures that have left their mark; the people have absorbed the influences of their many rulers, as seen in the architectonic lines of the buildings, churches and monuments. Its Duomo is a magnificent example. Reconstructed with the use of materials recovered from Roman-era buildings – such as the marble columns that decorate its courtyards – it looks out onto the piazza carrying its name (which after the earthquake was designed to leave ample space between buildings in the event of another destructive earthquake). It is dedicated to the city’s Patron, St. Agata, whose statue surmounts the main façade designed by Giovan Battista Vaccarini. Besides the church, the splendid Piazza Duomo is surrounded by the Palazzo Senatorio and elegant noble buildings arranged around the Fontana dell’Elefante, the symbol of the city. The monument, also the work of Vaccarini, is a kind of historical stratification: the base (the elephant) […]

Sicily is a summer holiday jewel in the Mediterranean Sea and Sicily beaches are some of the most beautiful in all of Europe! If you are coming here and looking for some of the best beaches to relax on then check this list of the Best Beaches in Sicily. You will definitely choose one for your coming holidays! There is no one in Palermo who wouldn’t go to the beautiful beach of Mondello during the hot summer days. It can be sometimes overcrowded but is definitely on the list of the most beautiful places in Sicily. The beach is located about 10 kilometers away from the city, nestled between Monte Pellegrino and Monte Gallo mountains. Sant Vito Lo Capo’s turquoise waters and crescent-shaped sandy beach are a well-kept secret, sure to impress beach-lovers. Set against the imposing backdrop of Monte Monaco in Sicily’s north-west, this charming coastal town is also a big hit with climbers. Visit in September to experience the Cous Cous Festival. Who wouldn’t know the famous beach between Trapani and Palermo with the equally famous and iconic mountain? The beach is 3 km long and wide enough to accommodate thousands of visitors every day. San Vito Lo Capo […]